I was taken aback when Mr. Fancy Schmancy shouted "A pox on both your houses!" as I was unaware that he knew of my summer home. Founding member of the Hogtown Irregulars, and former indentured short order cook still on the run. Professional Zamboni racer and bronze medal recipient in the 2010 All-Miami Outdoor Zamboni Championships.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

MOSCOW — "A pack of enormous bears searching for food killed and ate two men at mines in Russia's Pacific Kamchatka region and have kept hundreds of geologists and miners from reaching the mine, news agencies reported Wednesday.

A pack of up to 30 Kamchatka bears—which are similar to grizzlies—prowled around two mines of a local platinum mining company where they killed the two guards on Thursday, local officials were quoted by the Russian ITAR-Tass news agency as saying.

About 400 company workers have refused to return to the mines for fear of the bears, which stand 10 feet tall on their hind legs and weigh up to 1,500 pounds, Interfax reported.

About 10 bears have also been seen near the village of Khailino sniffing fish remains and other garbage.

Village official Viktor Leushkin was quoted by ITAR-Tass as saying that a team of hunters will be dispatched to shoot or chase off the bears.

"These predators have to be destroyed," Leushkin was quoted as saying. "Once they kill a human, they will do it again and again."

Rampant fish poaching in the Kamchatka tundra often forces the bears to seek other sources of food, such as garbage. Bears frequently attack humans in the scarcely populated peninsula region."

Don't these Russkies know that all one needs in some pepper spray, and bells, tiny little bells sewn into ones clothing, to chase away bears? And whats this hogwash about bears "frequently attacking humans"? Thats not what the Discovery Channels says.

Anyhoot, this is what happens when a disarmed society comes up against an unforgiving nature. Team of hunters my ass. They're sending in the army. You or I would just drag out a suitable rifle and shoot the damn things. Bear that big would make one helluva winter coat, or a cool rug. Never much liked bear meat but it'd do if thats all there was. Guess the bear feels the same way.